Public health is a broad field that deals with issues as diverse as chronic diseases, environmental health hazards, malnutrition, sexually transmitted infections, community violence, social and economic inequality, substance abuse, and much more.
As different as all these issues may seem, the people who work to combat them share something essential in common.They are all driven to serve — not only to prolong people’s lives, but to improve the quality of those lives.
With an accredited Master of Public Health degree from our King Graduate School, you’ll be ready to play a vital role in mitigating health issues on both the local and global level. You’ll develop the skills you need to collaborate with clinicians, health care agencies, and community members; to identify resources to help reduce the prevalence of public health issues, and to help prevent the incidence of health problems in diverse populations.
According to theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare jobs are on a path to expand by 13%over the next several years. That’s nearly three times the growth rate of all occupations in the same time frame.
Public health jobs — many of which requirea master’s degree — are set to keep pace with that expansion. Health education specialists could see a 12% increase in employment. The need for epidemiologists could grow by as much as 26% — twice as fast as the rest of the healthcare sector.
As a public health professional, you’ll find fulfillment in knowing that the work you do can change the lives of many. You’ll also find reassurance in knowing that the work you do won’t be going away.
Curriculum
At the King Graduate School, you’ll learn from an expert faculty who are leaders in the field of public health. Their job is to prepare you to lead as well, giving you the skills you’ll need to take on management positions in governmental public health agencies, academic and research institutions, private and public hospitals and other healthcare institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
All MPH candidates study evidence-based approaches to:
Public health systems and practice
Behavioral and social aspects of public health
Environmental and occupational health
Health policy and management
Principles of biostatistics
Global health
Principles of epidemiology
You’ll also have the chance to specialize in a subfield of your choosing, including:
Health Administration & Leadership — Explore solutions to public health issues at the administrative level, so you can develop policy and legislation to benefit underserved and vulnerable populations.
Community Health — Analyze public health needs within communities, and learn how to develop comprehensive programs to meet those needs. This includes investigating the causes of poor health and disease, providing health education to affected communities, implementing programs to improve health, healthcare access, and health equity, and advocating for public policy that supports community health.
Biostatistics & Epidemiology — Use statistical procedures, techniques, and methodologies to conduct health research, analyze data, understand disease development, and identify health trends — and then recommend interventions or preventive programs. Discover how specific regulatory programs can lead to individual behavioral changes within a population.
MPH candidates who choose the Health Administration & Leadership and Community Health concentrations must complete a scientifically sound thesis in order to graduate, while Biostatistics and Epidemiology students must design, execute, and present a scholarly project related to their area of interest.
Every Public Health student also completes at least one semester-long internship, giving them the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned to real-world field experience.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master of Public Health Degree?
We designed the Master of Public Health Degree as a five (5)-semester program. That means full-time students can earn their MPH in less than two (2) years on Monroe’s three (3)-semester academic calendar.
Master of Public Health Requirements:
45 total credits*
24 credits of required core courses, including a practice-based internship and a thesis project**
18 credits in a chosen concentration: Community Health, Health Administration and Leadership, or Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Students must also complete a three (3)-credit, practice-based internship in the public health field.
Candidates who need to add professional work experience to their academic course load might be required to enroll in the professional experience track. Students in this track must complete at least two (2) additional single-credit internships.***
*Depending on their prior education, some MPH students may be required to take a foundation course in Statistics Foundations.
** Students who choose the Biostatistics and Epidemiology concentration are exempt from the thesis requirement.
*** Students with applicable experience, including work experience, volunteer work, military service, or training programs might be able to use prior learning credits in place of certain field experience requirements.
†Per the terms of their student visas, international students must attend three (3) session days per semester in on-campus classes.
To solve public health crises, we first have to understand them. Epidemiology is about studying the patterns of disease and injury: their incidence, their prevalence, and their behavioral and social risk factors across diverse populations. In this course, Public Health students will broaden their understanding of population health, health inequities, and how they influence public policy. Students will learn to apply epidemiological methods to issues including environmental health, infectious disease, and more.
As a public health specialist, you’ll never stop looking for ways to help the people you serve. Neither do we. That’s why we’re committed to making quality education affordable.
It starts with our affordabletuition and fees and manageable payment plans. What really sets us apart, though — what makes us one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Value Schools in Regional Universities North — is our dedicated financial aid staff. They’ll work with you one-on-one to find you every possible grant, scholarship, and loan.
You can make a difference. How you make that difference will be up to you. Here are just a few Master of Public Health jobs for each concentration:
Health Administration & Leadership
Director of public health
Health systems analyst
Health services research manager
Medical officer
Program manager
Director of risk management
Director of patient safety
Practice manager
Community Health
Health education specialist
Epidemiologist
HIV/AIDS counselor
Substance abuse counselor
Director of environmental health
Nonprofit coordinator
Public health nutritionist
Surveillance project director
Biostatistics & Epidemiology
Research project manager
Surveillance project director
Research assistant
Epidemiologist
Biostatistician
Data management specialist
No matter which path you choose, your MPH degree will prepare you for leadership positions in local and state health departments, academia, healthcare institutions, public health interest groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and more.
Professional Opportunities
At Monroe, we believereal-world learningis fundamental to education. That’s why we place every MPH candidate in at least one (1) supervised internship. The internship requirement serves several purposes:
It gives students an opportunity to see how academic theory applies to real-world situations.
It allows students to explore different career options before graduating.
It provides valuable professional networking opportunities within the healthcare field.
No matter what your specialization may be, your internship will prepare you for the next stage of your career.
Discover What You Can Achieve
The last few years have shown us all how important public health is. To keep people informed, healthy, and safe, we need public health professionals who are well-trained, ambitious, and ready to tackle the big issues that face us all.
With a Master of Public Health Degree, you can be one of them. Find out what our King Graduate Schoolcan do for you
